Cooking and heating apparatus for vehicles



1950 e. ALESSANDRO COOKING AND HEATING APPARATUS FOR VEHICLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001;. 19, 1945 Oct. 24, 1950 G. ALESSANDRO 2,526,923

COOKING AND HEATING APPARATUS FOR VEHICLES Filed Oct. 19, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 H3 i 0 0 0 e (a Oct. 24, 1950 ALESSANDRQ 2,526,923

COOKING AND HEATING APPARATUSFOR VEHICLES Filed Oct. 19, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Oct. 24, 1950 umr o sures PATENT orricc COOKING AND HEATING APPARATUS FOR VEHICLES Gaetano Alessandro, Lorain, Ohio Application October 19, 1945, Serial No. 623.228

2 Claims. (01. 126-4) the exhaust gases, and the heated air may beutilized for heating the interior of the vehicle,

for heating the windshield to eliminate frost, or,

for providing heated air for the carburetor.

Another object of this invention is to provide a heater which is formed with an oven within which food articles may be placed.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a heater of this type an improved valve or damper for regulating the flow of exhaust gases through the heaterLthe valve being constructed to withstand the heat and other factors which render ordinary dampers impractical.

A further object of this invention is to provide a combined heater and cooker whereby articles of food may be cooked from the heat of the exhaust gases.

With the foregoing objects in view, and others which may hereinafter more fully appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be more specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein are shown embodiments of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations, and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention, as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a detailed side elevation partly broken away of a heating apparatus constructed according to an embodiment of this invention mounted in a vehicle which is shown in fra mentary sectional form;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a detailed end elevation partly broken away and in section of the heater embodied in this invention;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line z the connection between the controlling dial and the mainvalve;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary side elevation of the operating means for the main valve;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional view of the inner housing;

Figure 13 is a detailed side elevation partly broken away and in section of a modified form of the outline coupling;

Figure 14 is a detailed end elevation of a modified form of the heater;

Figure 15 is a detailed front elevation partly broken away and in section of the heater shown in Figure Figure 16 is a diagrammatic view showing the embodiment of this invention connected between a tractor vehicle and a trailer;

Figure 17 is a detailed side elevation partly broken away and in section of the flexible heat conducting tube for coupling the heater between the tractor and trailer.

Referring to the drawings, and first to Figures 1 to 12 inclusive, the numeral designates generally a vehicle having an internal combustion engine 28 in the forward part thereof which is provided with an exhaust manifold 21 and an intake filter 23 coupled to the carburetor. A heater generally designated as 29 is disposed within the body of the vehicle 25 at a point slightly forward from the instrument panel 3|].

The reater 29 comprises an inner casing 3| which is dome shaped in transverse section and is provided with a flat bottom wall 32. A dome shaped jacket 33 engages about the innercasing 3| and is spaced therefrom so as to provide a be formed with a pair of partitions 39 and 40 dividing the interior of the casing 3| into a plurality of heating compartments and access may be had to the heating compartments in the casing Si by means of an endwise slidable arcuate closure 4|.

A pair of tubular manifolds l2 and 43 are disposed in the lower portion of the jacket 33 below,

the supporting wall and a plurality of upwardly arched pipes 44 are connected at one spasms end to the manifold 42 which is the intake manifold and at the opposite ends to the manifold 43 which is the exhaust or outlet manifold. The pipes 44 extend in the space 34 so that this space will be heated from the hot exhaust gases passing through the pipes 44 from the manifold 42 to the manifold 43.

The intake manifold 42 has connected to one end thereof a pipe 45 which is connected to the exhaust nipple 46 of a. regulating valve structure 41 including an intake nipple 48 which is connected by means of a pipe 43 to the manifold 21. The valve structure 41 also includes a cylindrical chamber 50 within which a regulating valve or damper 5| is rotatable. The valve or damper 5| includes a tapered blade 52 which is pivotally mounted on a shaft 53 and is adapted to swing across the intake opening 54 to the chamber 53. A stop member 55 is carried by the valve structure 53 for engagement with the blade or valve member 52 so as to limit the swinging movement of the valve member in one direction.

The valve member 5| also includes an obtusely disposed extension 58 extending from the blade or valve member 52 which is formed with a valve head 51. The valve head 51 in one position of the valve structure is adapted to engage a'stop member 58 disposed in the chamber 58 and in another position thereof is adapted to engage a second stop member 59. An intake nipple 88 communicates with the chamber 58 and is adapted to be connected by means of a pipe 8| to the exhaust manifold 43. An outlet nipple 52 is carried by the valve structure 41 and is disposed in alignment with the intake nipple 48.

When the valve member 5| is turned so as direct the hot exhaust gases to the heater 23, the valve member 5I will be disposed in the full line position shown in Figure 7. When the heater .23 is cut off the valve member 5| is turned to the dotted line position shown in Figure 7. In this latter position, the head 51 will cover the inner end of the intake nipple 58 and the hot exhaust gases will pass directly from the nipple 48 to the nipple 82.

The shaft 53 has secured to one end thereof an arm 83 and the arm 83 has connected thereto one end of a link 54. The other end of the link 84 is connected to a vertically slidable gear rack 85 which is slidable in a guide 85 carried by a plate 31. A gear 88 carried by a shaft 88 measures with the rack 65 and the gear shaft 88 has secured to the inner end thereof an operating member or pointer 10. The pointer I8 is movable over a dial II and preferably the pointer I is provided with a lug 12 which is engaged in a selected one of a plurality of notches I3 carried by the dial or plate II. In this manner the shaft 88 will be locked against movement. The dial or plate 'II is secured to the inner side of the instrument panel 38 and may be supported in vertical position by interposing a wedge 14 between the plate II and the inner side of the panel 38. Preferably, a spring I is disposed about the shaft 63 bearing at one end against the adjacent or outer side of the panel 33 and hearing at the other end against a washer I8 which is secured against movement on the shaft 89 bymeans ofapin I1.

The jacket 33 is provided in one side thereof with a pair of openings 18 and a slidable valve plate 13 is carried by guides 88 secured to the adjacent side of the jacket 33. The valve plate I3 is formed with a pair of openings 8| which may be moved into or out of registration with the outlet openings I8 so that heated air may be discharged into the driver's compartment for heating this compartment when heater 84 is also being used. The jacket 33 has connected to the forward side thereof the rear end of an air pipe 82 which extends forwardly and alongside of the engine 28 and has secured to the forward end thereof a scoop or funnel member 83. The scoop or funnel member 83 is disposed rearwadly of the fan of the engine 28 so that air will be forced through the pipe 82 and into air chamber 34 within the jacket 33.

A temperature gauge 84 is mounted on the inner or rear side of the Jacket 33 and has a por. tion 85 projecting into the heating chamber 38 so that the temperature of the air in the chamber 34 can be accurately determined. The jacket 33 also has secured thereto an exhaust fitting comprising a nipple 83 which communicates with the interio of the jacket 33 and has an outlet nipple 8'I communicating therewith. A second substantially right angularly disposed nipple 88 communicates with the two nipples 88 and 81 and a butterfly valve 88 is pivotally mounted as at 88 and is adapted to regulate the flow of air through either the exhaust nipple 31 or the exhaust nipple 88.

The nipple 88 has connected thereto one end of a flexible pipe 82 which extends to the rear compartment 33 of the vehicle and is connected to a rear heater 84 of conventional construction.

The valve 89 has connected thereto one end of a flexible operator 85 which extends through a tubular sheath 85. The operator 85 has a knob 81 secured to the opposite end thereof and the sheath 96 is fixedly secured by means of a coupling 98 to the panel 38. 7

Referring now to Figure 13, there is disclosed a modified form of heated air discharge means comprising a valve housing 38 connected at one end to the jacket 33. The housing 88 includes a discharge nipple I88 for discharging the heated air into the driver compartment of the vehicle and the housing 99 includes an exhaust nipple IIiI which extends vertically downwardly and is secured by means I02 to the fioor I83 of the vehicle and extends through the fioor so that the heated air may be discharged below the floor. A damper I84 similar to the damper 89 regulates the flow of the heated air through either a nipple I00 or IIII.

The heated air in the chamber 34 may also be directed to the windshield III by means of a pipe I05 connected at one end to th jacket 33 and at the other end to a discharge nozzle H2. A damper I06 is mounted in the pipe I05 and is regulated by means of a flexible operating member III'I having an operating knob I88 secured to one end thereof. The sheath I08 about the flexible member ID! is fixed relative to the casing 33 by means of a bracket III). The heated air from the jacket 33 may be also directed for discharge into the intake member 28 by means of a pipe II3 which is connected at one end to the air intake member 28.

The rear end of th pipe H3 is connected to a valve housing II4 having a damper I I5 mounted therein and the valve housing II4 communicates with the interior of the casing 33 through the bottom wall I I6 as shown in Figure 5. The damper I I5 is adjusted by means of a flexible operator III which is slidable in a sheath I I8 and has a knob I I9 fixed to the opposite or inner end thereof. The valve plate I9 has fixed thereto a flexible operator I 28 slidable in the sheath I2I and a knob I22 is fixed to the inner end of the operator I29. The pipe III is also connected at its rear end to a carburetor heater valve housi I23 having a damper disposed therein which is regulated by means of a flexible operating member I24 slidable in a sheath I25. A knob I26 is fixed to the rear end of the operator I24.

Referring now to Figures 14 and 15, there is disclosed a modified form of the heater structure embodying an outer casing 33a which has mounted therein manifolds 42a andl3a connected to the exhaust of the engine. The casing 33a has slidable therein a plurality of drawers I21 disposed in superposed relation so that articles of food or the like may be placed in the drawers and the latter pulled outwardly as may be desired. The two manifolds 42a and a are connected together by means of a plurality of pipes a similar to th pipes 44. The remaining structure shown in Figures 1 to 12 inclusivemay be incorporated with the casing shown in Figures 14 and 15.

In Figure lfi there is disclosed another adaptation of this invention wherein a trailer I28 is connected to the tractor vehicle 25. The heating member 33a log-mounted in the trailer I28 and is connected to the exhaust I29 of the vehicle by means of a flexible hose I30. The flexible hose I is disposed interiorily of an outer flexible hose I3I which may be connected to an air intake pipe similar to the pipe 82 having a funnel or collector 83 in the forward end thereof.

In the drawings the heater and cooker is shown positioned beneath the instrument panel of the vehicle, but it will be understood that the device may be mounted beneath the engine hood or at any other suitable location.

The exact configuration illustrated is regarded as the optimum, but some of the desirable results inherent in this disclosure may be obtained by various slight modifications including some departure from the exact configuration shown, and it is therefore requested that the scope of the invention should be regarded as limited only by the terms of the claims. I

What I claim is:

1. A combined heater and'cooker comprising an through which said inner casing may be removed from and inserted into said outer casing, a closure for said opening, an air inlet formed in said outer casing, a plurality of air exhaust openings formed in said outer casing, and a valve member slidably carried by said outer casing and adapted to close said latter openings.

2. A combined heater and cooker comprising an outer casing formed with an opening in one end thereof, a pair of parallel hot gas receiving manifolds in said casing and extending longitudinally across the bottom thereof, a plurality of arched tubes having the opposite ends thereof communicating with said pair of manifolds, a support member disposed above said manifolds with the side edges thereof spaced inwardly from the sides of said outer casing, an inner casing adapted to be received by said opening for removal and insertion in said outer casing and slidably carried by said support member, said casing being formed with a longitudinally slotted top wall, a closure member slidably carried by said top wall for closure thereof, a marginal flange extending about the outer end of said inner casing and adapted to abut said one end of said outer casing for sealing the opening therein, means for supplying said outer casing with air, and valved exhaust openings formed in the side wall of said outer casing adapted to control the exhaust of heated air therefrom.

GAETANO ALESSANDRO.

\ REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 748,493 Fox Dec. 29, 1903 1,062,925 Philipcik May 27, 1913 1,091,816 Dudderar Mar. 31, 1914 1,132,391 Ruttle Mar. 16, 1915 1,194,473 Bovey Aug. 15, 1916 1,213,772 McCown Jan. 23, 1917 1,392,956 Martin Oct. 11,- 1921 1,525,839 Webb Feb. 10, 1925 1,623,963 Frushour Apr. 12, 1927 2,168,491 Parmeter Aug. 8, 1939 2,388,890 Whitted Nov. 13, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 617,429 Germany Aug. 19, 1935 

